| Nationality | ESP |
| Born | 24.02.1971, Barcelona |
Wrooom 2013 – De La Rosa comes to Maranello
Posted: 16.01.2013
Source: Ferrari
Madonna di Campiglio, 16 January – There’s a new driver joining the Ferrari family. As from this year, Pedro Martinez De La Rosa will be on the Scuderia’s books for technical, racing and commercial activities. The Spanish driver, born in Cardedeu on 24 February 1971, has taken part in 106 Grands Prix, racing for five different teams (Arrows, Jaguar, McLaren, Sauber and HRT,) with his best result being a second place in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix. He has scored a total of 35 championship points. “We decided to add De La Rosa to our group of drivers mainly to strengthen one area, namely work in the simulator, which with the current regulations regarding testing, is becoming ever more important,” said Team Principal, Stefano Domenicali. “Pedro therefore joins a group of drivers that already includes Davide Rigon, Marc Gene, Andrea Bertolini and Jules Bianchi. Regarding the latter, who is also part of the FDA, we are currently trying to find him a role in Formula 1 and when we have some news, we will let you know.”
“It is amazingly motivating to be working for a team like Ferrari, not just because of what it represents in the history of Formula 1 and motoring in general, but also because it will be a completely new and very stimulating experience for me,” said De La Rosa. “I really hope I can get to work as soon as possible and to help in the development of the car. I am happy to be collaborating with Fernando again and also to be working with Felipe. There’s not much time until Australia, but there is a lot to do and I am available to help the team from right now.”
Massa to debut new Ferrari
Posted: 24.01.2013
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 24 January – It will fall to Felipe Massa to give the car that Ferrari will use in this year’s Formula 1 World Championship its track debut. The Brazilian will begin work on development of the new car, starting on 5 February at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, which hosts the first of three test sessions of four days duration each, to be held in the run-up to the start of the season. Felipe will stay on track until 7 February before handing over to Pedro De La Rosa, who will thus make his debut at the wheel of a Ferrari.
In the meantime and throughout all the first part of February, Fernando Alonso will intensify his physical training, in preparation for a first part of the season which, as usual will be very demanding, both because of the long distances involved between the various Grands Prix and because of the variety of weather conditions encountered from Melbourne to Sakhir, with Sepang and Shanghai in between. Fernando will get behind the wheel of the fourth car of his Ferrari career for the first time on 19 February at Montmelo’s Catalunya circuit. The Spaniard will drive for three days before handing over to team-mate Massa. The final test session, also at Montmelo from 28 February to 3 March will see Felipe and Fernando take turns on track: Thursday and Saturday for the Brazilian, Friday and Sunday for the Spaniard. This means the breakdown of test days for the Ferrari men is as follows: Massa six days, Alonso five and De La Rosa one.
In fact, Pedro is in Maranello today for a seat fitting to fine tune his position in the cockpit of the new car. He has had a series of meetings with the Scuderia engineers to define his programme on the simulator, which will constitute the major part of his role as test driver. This means that his day on track on 8 February will be very important, as it will allow both the team and the driver to work specifically on looking at the correlation between the virtual and the real experience. The work of assembling the new car goes on: yesterday the engine was fired up for the first time.
De la Rosa’s “premier” as a Ferrari man
Posted: 28.01.2013
Source: Ferrari
Madrid, 28 January – Today was Pedro de la Rosa’s first appearance as a Ferrari man, when, along with the head of the FDA, Luca Baldisserri, he attended the fourth edition of the “Beca Santander Jovenes Promesas” ceremony, organised by one of Scuderia Ferrari’s most important sponsors. With a broad smile on his face and a Ferrari fleece on his back, the Spaniard dealt with questions from the press at the event, who were very interested in his first impressions of his new role. “I am proud and very happy, mainly because Ferrari is more than just a Formula 1 team,” said Pedro. “I’m starting a new phase of my life: for a driver it’s important to work with the big teams, especially because you can learn from the best engineers and professionals in this sport. I am proud that Ferrari had faith in me, especially as it means I will be able to help a Spanish champion, in the shape of Fernando Alonso.”
It’s less than two weeks since the announcement, but De la Rosa has already been able to experience the intense pressure that reigns in Maranello. “It’s logical, because it’s a team that is used to winning,” commented the Catalan driver. “In Formula 1, whether it comes from below or from elsewhere, pressure is total, but definitely, I immediately saw that, at Ferrari, winning is the only thing that matters. Every time I go to Maranello there is something to learn and it’s a continual experience. Even if I cannot say much, because I have only known Ferrari for a short time, I can say that, at least once in your life, you have to go to Maranello. I’m not talking about the factory, but rather the city: it’s there that you start to understand the difference between a team like Ferrari and all the others, because you already feel as though you are pretty much within the company. Every restaurant, bar or person on the street has something red: it’s really impressive!
Pedro will make his debut at the wheel of the Prancing Horse’s new car on 8th February at Jerez, when he will take over the wheel from team-mate Felipe Massa, who is driving for the first three days of the session. For De la Rosa this is the best way possible to be of immediate use to the team. “I’ve seen the new car in the factory, as it is being prepared for the first test,” he explained. “I am very happy to be able to test it and honestly I had not expected that. It’s a unique opportunity to begin to understand how the car works and how I can help with the work in the simulator.”